Chapter 34: Bad News, Founding a Nation, and the Grand Competition
Chapter 34: Bad News, Founding a Nation, and the Grand Competition
Defeat!
For a moment, everyone who heard this news was left speechless.
Countless people were stunned by this news, not knowing what to say.
A battle between sword and spear.
In this world, it held a special meaning.
It was a true clash of the pinnacle figures.
One sword and one spear, one was the best in the world, and the other was second.
At the top of the Cloud-End Weapon Ranking.
The battle between the two was actually a contest for the title of the best in the world.
But there was another deeper reason—the sword belonged to the Guardian Alliance, and the spear belonged to the Sole Truth Sect!
For countless years, the sword had always suppressed the spear, and this was the source of confidence for all righteous warriors on the continent.
But now, the sword had lost a move.
This news was like the sky falling!
...
Cloud-End Weapon Ranking, First Place: The Heart-Severing Sword.
In dreams and reality, the Heart-Severing Sword cuts through emotions, severing love and finding no freedom; in the wind, tears fall, and on the cloud's peak, the snow-covered flute plays a sorrowful tune. - Heart-Severing Sword, Snow-Covered Flute.
Cloud-End Weapon Ranking, Second Place: The Dream-Shattering Spear.
In the sea of blood, the Dream-Shattering Spear sails alone, piercing through the cold wind and bitter rain, shattering the setting sun; it pierces through countless dreams in the mortal world, breaking into a petal of fragrance at the spear's tip. - Dream-Shattering Spear, Duan Xiyang.
...
It was said that this time, the Dream-Shattering Spear, Duan Xiyang, took the initiative to challenge the Heart-Severing Sword, Xue Fuxiao, at the peak of Ziyu Mountain.
Xue Fuxiao refused to accept the challenge.
So, Duan Xiyang suddenly took action, and within three days, he slaughtered three border cities and killed over two million civilians!
"Xue Fuxiao, if you don't fight, I'll slaughter one city each day!"
Xue Fuxiao angrily accepted the challenge.
The two set a battle agreement: if Duan Xiyang won, the Sole Truth Sect would establish a nation, and the Guardians would not interfere.
If Xue Fuxiao won, the Sole Truth Sect would remain dormant for five hundred years.
Within those five hundred years, they could only operate in secret, without any sacrifices, killing of civilians, or terrorist activities on the continent.
This agreement left Xue Fuxiao with no way out!
...
The Sole Truth Sect had long planned to establish a nation, and they had infiltrated various countries on the continent countless times, even establishing an army early on.
But each time, they were crushed by the Guardian Alliance.
The Heart-Severing Sword, Xue Fuxiao, stood at the top of the Cloud-End Weapon Ranking, overlooking the world and suppressing all dissent, including the Dream-Shattering Spear, Duan Xiyang!
Four hundred years ago, the Sole Truth Sect's plan to establish a nation had overthrown the Great Yong Dynasty, but the Guardian Alliance was prepared, gathering countless experts to dismantle the Sole Truth Sect's nation-building plans.
They then established the Great Zhao Dynasty, continuing the national fortune of the Great Yong Dynasty as the Great Zhao.
The three great empires and nine dynasties on the continent all belonged to the Guardian Alliance.
Although the Sole Truth Sect was powerful, it was not recognized as the legitimate ruler by the people.
Without the national fortune to suppress them, they remained scattered. - Only another regime could compete for the right to rule.
Without a regime, no matter how powerful they were, they were just bandits!
This was the logic.
So, what the Sole Truth Sect lacked was legitimacy.
For so many years, they had fought desperately for this.
Finally, they found an opportunity.
Xue Fuxiao accepted Duan Xiyang's challenge at the peak of Ziyu Mountain.
The two fought for a day and a night.
Xue Fuxiao was shocked to discover that Duan Xiyang was no longer the same; this old rival, whom he had suppressed for so long, had now surpassed him!
In fact, every time they fought, Xue Fuxiao felt that Duan Xiyang had caught up significantly.
Each time, he improved.
Until the last time, eighty years ago, Xue Fuxiao had barely won.
This was why Xue Fuxiao refused to fight: by not fighting, he remained the best in the world, and the mountain in the hearts of countless martial artists would not crumble.
Their faith would not collapse!
But Duan Xiyang's daily slaughter of a city forced Xue Fuxiao into a corner, leaving him no choice but to fight.
And as expected, he lost.
Even when Xue Fuxiao fought with all his might, he still lost a move!
The Dream-Shattering Spear pierced through his shoulder.
Xue Fuxiao sighed in despair, feeling the pain of the spear piercing his body, but it was nothing compared to the pain in his heart.
Because he knew that from this day on, the sky had fallen!
Duan Xiyang slowly retracted his spear and said indifferently, "You lost. I'll spare your life this time!"
Xue Fuxiao bitterly smiled.
"It wasn't that I didn't want to kill you, but I had my concerns, so it wasn't mercy. You don't owe me anything."
"You owe me if you owe me."
Duan Xiyang turned and left, saying, "You'll die by my spear one day; because the methods we can use, you can't, and you never will!"
Xue Fuxiao replied, "If I acted like you, wouldn't I become like you? What's the point of fighting?"
From afar, Duan Xiyang's light laughter could be heard, "You're right."
...
Xue Fuxiao was defeated.
The world was shaken!
The Cloud-End Weapon Ranking's first place changed.
From now on, the Cloud-End Weapon Ranking's first place was the Dream-Shattering Spear.
Suppressing all others.
The fourth day.
Under the Sole Truth Sect, thirty-six sects and countless others on the continent simultaneously held ceremonies to worship the heavens and the gods.
The Sky Scorpion God!
This day.
July 27th.
Known as the continent's bloody day.
Because, at the same time, nineteen large cities, each with a population of over ten million, witnessed horrifying massacres.
Belonging to different nations.
In each city, a thousand elderly couples, a thousand middle-aged couples, a thousand young couples, and a thousand children, both boys and girls, were forced to kneel before a hidden Sky Scorpion God statue and had their throats slit.
Blood flowed freely.
A river of blood stretched for dozens of miles.
The sight was heart-wrenching, and on this day, the sky mourned, the earth wept, and the wind howled with rage!
In just the mega-cities, over 150,000 people died unnatural deaths!
In countless other places, similar sacrifices were held, but on a much smaller scale, happening simultaneously.
On this day, over hundreds of thousands of lives were lost.
This was the Sole Truth Sect's worship of the gods!
The entire continent trembled.
...
July 29th.
The Great Xuan Empire, originally under the Guardian Alliance, suddenly erupted into chaos, and within a day, blood flowed for a thousand miles.
All officials under the emperor were beheaded.
Prime Minister Wang Zichen led over a thousand civil servants out of the city gates to welcome the new emperor's ascension.
Inside the city, over ten thousand civil and military officials, as well as scholars, committed suicide to serve their country.
White flags filled the city.
Cries shook the heavens.
Border generals were assassinated one after another, and the old marshal Yang Tifeng led the remaining troops in a desperate battle. Eventually, they were surrounded at the imperial mausoleum, fighting until the last soldier. The old marshal knelt before the mausoleums of the Great Xuan Empire's past emperors and committed suicide with his sword.
The Sole Truth Sect's cavalry entered the Xuanwu City of the Great Xuan Capital.
The new Emperor Chu Wuji ascended the throne, announcing to the world and changing the country's name to the New Chu! Officials who surrendered were promoted, and a grand amnesty was declared.
From then on, the country focused on recuperation.
Riots broke out along the borders of the New Chu, but the experts of the Sole Truth Sect swiftly suppressed them within a short time.
The turmoil in various places gradually subsided, and the New Chu sent peace letters to its neighboring countries, seemingly bringing peace to the world.
However, the entire world knew.
The world had changed!
Dark undercurrents were stirring.
No one knew when, but a war between nations would erupt, and once it began, the flames of war would spread across the entire continent in an extremely short time.
No place would be spared!
No one would be spared!
Because the Sole Truth Sect had been planning for tens of thousands of years, and they had finally succeeded in establishing their own nation.
Although it was just the first country and the first dynasty, they now possessed national fortune!
In other words... a legitimate status!
All disciples of the Sole Truth Sect celebrated across the land.
However, the countries affiliated with the Guardian Alliance were filled with shock and awe.
Before this, everyone knew that the Sole Truth Sect wanted to establish a country, but they all assumed that even if it was established, it would just be a small, remote country.
No one expected that one of the three great empires, the Great Xuan Empire, would change its banner so easily!
The dynasty change was so effortless!
One of the neighboring countries of the current New Chu was the Great Zhao, and the flames of war were almost about to ignite.
...
White Cloud Continent.
White Cloud Martial Academy.
August 2nd.
The Freshman Competition proceeded as scheduled.
In the grand school field, tens of thousands of teachers and students stood in perfect formation!
On the high platform.
Headmaster Qingyu stood tall, his voice like thunder, rolling across the grand school field.
He looked at the solemn faces of the students below, his voice calm yet clearly reaching every ear.
"...I believe you all have heard the news. Xue Daren and Duan Xiyang fought, and Xue Daren lost in one move. The Sole Truth Sect, which has been hidden in the shadows for thousands of years, has officially established its dynasty, and now possesses national fortune."
"I know how heavy your hearts are!"
"I also understand the crisis that lies ahead!"
The students below grew even more somber.
Suddenly, Qingyu raised his voice, like a thunderclap.
"But those news have nothing to do with us! They have nothing to do with you!"
"Even if you worry yourselves to death, the situation has already occurred."
"Now, six million troops are stationed along the borders, and the Guardians are suppressing the world, maintaining peace. The officials are governing the people, and the stationed troops are protecting peace!"
"These are the reasons you are standing here right now!"
"Your worries and heaviness are of no use! Only by deepening your cultivation and improving your martial prowess will you have the ability to face all future situations!"
"Even your distractions now are a waste of your predecessors' efforts!"
"As the Headmaster of this school, I have a message for you all!"
Qingyu's voice turned into a startling thunder in the clear sky, shaking everyone with its enlightening tone.
He poured all his heart, strength, and spirit into his words.
He was so eager to engrave these words in the hearts of the tens of thousands of students below.
"Do not let the blood of your predecessors flow in vain, do not let your youth and vigor turn into sighs, and do not let the mortal world turn into a demonic realm!"
Below, all the students raised their arms and shouted in unison.
"Do not let the blood of your predecessors flow in vain, do not let your youth and vigor turn into sighs, and do not let the mortal world turn into a demonic realm!"
Tens of thousands of voices echoed in unison, creating a mighty sound that shook the entire White Cloud Continent!
The sound of their roar reached far and wide, startling the beasts in the Tiger's Roar Valley.
A moment later, "The top 100 students in the Freshman Competition, the competition begins."
"Those whose names I call, please come to the front platform."
Qingyu shouted, "First place, 299 points, Fang Che!"
Below.
In the area where second-year students were gathered, a small group of boys and girls exclaimed in surprise.
They were Fang Qingyun's classmates and close friends.
They never expected that Fang Che, their younger cousin, would be the top scorer!
They couldn't help but let their eyes shine.
Fang Qingyun was stunned.
Suddenly, he thought of his own ranking: there were 7,500 students in his year, and he was ranked 7,476th!
He felt a sudden surge of heartache.
A wave of discomfort.
Suddenly, he felt an urge to beat up his younger cousin.
You're actually the top scorer!
How am I supposed to live with this?
I'm asking you, how am I supposed to live with this? If my uncle doesn't beat me to death when I go home, I'll consider it his fatherly love!
Under the watchful eyes of everyone.
Fang Che, dressed in a black robe, stood tall and graceful, adorned with a golden crown and jade hairpin, his hair flowing gracefully.
He walked step by step.
As if descending from the Jade Pool Palace, he approached with a dazzling aura, like a celestial being.
Step by step, he reached the platform, and step by step, he entered the eyes and hearts of the crowd.
In his graceful and composed demeanor, his face had soft features yet distinct contours, sharp brows and eyes, and a hint of cold, restrained charm.
"Wow..."
Suddenly, a spontaneous exclamation rose from below.
A student with a relatively long face, standing among the upperclassmen, slapped himself and muttered, "I... I'm going to find my parents!"
Laughter erupted from the side.
Fang Che had reached the platform, standing alone, facing the tens of thousands of gazes with a carefree demeanor. He showed no signs of the nervousness that often gripped young people in front of a large audience.
His face was calm, and his entire being exuded composure.
He stood tall, his sleeves fluttering in the wind, and although he wasn't wearing his signature black robe with golden and dark patterns, he still possessed an otherworldly charm.
On the stage, Huang Yifan, the Associate Headmaster, looked at Fang Che with a mix of confusion, regret, and endless uncertainty in his eyes.
"Which side is this Fang Che really on?"
...
[The chapter is too long, and it's only the 30th chapter, yet it's already over 120,000 words. Someone reminded me to release chapters of around 2,000 words, and I realized my mistake. But it's too late to make changes now, so I ask for your support with votes and collections to comfort my heart.
This is my first time writing a book, and I lack experience. Sigh.]
(End of Chapter)
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